Switching device



Oct. 25, 1960 w. JUPTNER swITcHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.14, 1957 FIGJ Oct. 25, 1960 w. JUPTNER 2,957,961

SWITCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #from/eye,

United States Patent SWITCHING DEVICE Wilhelm Juptner Elgin, Ill.,assignor to C. P. Clare & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Aug. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 678,178

12 Claims. (Cl. 20G-87) The present invention relates to switchingdevices and more particularly to magnetically operated relays in whichthe switching contacts are provided within a separate enclosure orcartridge for facilitating the maintenance of a suitable atmosphere forthe contacts so that the disturbing effects of other relay components`and of the ambient conditions do not adversely aiect the switchingaction of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedrelay of the type including a separate switching unit or cartridge whichis simple and sturdy in construction, reliable in operation andinexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a relay whichincludes new and improved means for mounting the principal parts thereofin a housing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a relay having amagnetic circuit which includes resilient means for mounting theprincipal components of the relay within a housing.

Very briefly, the above and further objects are realized in accordancewith the present invention by providing a relay which includes one ormore hermetically sealed switching units `or cartridges mounted within acoil. The relay further includes a generally tubular housing having anopen and a closed end and the control winding and a portion of thecartridge are resiliently urged toward the closed end of the housing tomount the cartridge and the winding within the housing.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, partially in section, of a relayembodying certain aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the switching unit of the relayillustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a switching unit embodyingthe present invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary side `elevational views of switching unitsembodying other aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of arelay embodying certain aspects of the present invention; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a relay switching unit embodyingcertain aspects of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof,there is shown a complete relay 1t) which comprises as its principalelements a generally cylindrical housing or can 12 in which is mounted acontrol winding or coil 13 and a hermetically sealed switching unit orcartridge 14. In the unit 14, a ferromagnetic electrically conductiveterminal and heel piece 15 protrudes from the top of a hermeticallysealed glass housing 16 from the bottom of which extend two terminalmembers 17 and 18. The terminal 17 is ferromagnetic so that it alsofunctions as a heel piece. The members 15 and 17 thus cooperate with thecan 12 and a tubular ferromagnetic sleeve 21 to provide a stator havingan air gap in which a balanced ferromagnetic and electrically conductivearmature 22 is pivotally mounted for selectively connecting the terminalmember 15 to either the terminal member 17 or the terminal member 18.

The terminals 17 and 18 are respectively connected through conductors 23and 24, to two terminal pins 25 and 26. These terminal pins areconventionally mounted in a disk-shaped header 27 which is formed ofinsulating material and is secured in place, as shown, to close thebottom opening in the can 12. A third terminal pin 28 extends throughthe header 27 and is electrically connected to the upper terminal member15 by means of a resilient wave shaped connector 31 of rectangularcrosssection, which also functions to bias the switching unit 14 againstthe opposite side of the inner wall `of the coil 13, thereby toeliminate any radial play between the switching unit 14 and the coil 13.

Radial play between the coil 13 and the housing 12 is prevented by meansof a plurality of elongated resilient and folded inserts 32 which arepositioned between the coil 13 and the inner wall of the housing 12.Axial movement of the coil 13 with respect to the housing 12 isprevented by means of a washer 33 which is interposed between the sleeve21 and the lower end of the coil 13 and has one or more resilientpretensioned crimps therein for resiliently biasing the coil 13 upwardagainst the bottom surface of the oE-turned portion of the terminal 15.The terminal 15 is thus resiliently urged against an insulating disk 34positioned at the top of the housing 12. The ianged sleeve 21 issupported within the housing 12 by means of a tubular sleeve 35 which isinterposed between the sleeve 21 and the header 27. The pretensionedwasher 33 thus not only acts to force the terminal member 15 to the topof the can 12 but also acts to bias the sleeve 21 and the sleeve 35toward the header 27, thereby to prevent relative movement of theswitching unit 14 either with respect to the winding 13 yor with respectto the can 12. The winding 13 is provided With a pair of input leads 36which extend through a suitable slot 37 in the sleeve 21 and arerespectively connected to terminal pins (not shown) which extend throughand are supported by the header 27.

Considering the operation of the relay of Fig. 1, let it be assumed thatthe armature 22 is normally biased by means not visible in the drawinginto engagement with a nonmagnetic Contact member 38 which is welded tothe terminal member 18 so that when no current is supplied to the coil13 the armature is positioned in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 andelectrically connects the terminal 15 to the terminal 18. Accordingly,the terminal pins 26 and 28 are interconnected within the relay 10.

When a current of suliicient value is supplied to the winding 13 `tooperate the relay 10, a magnetic ield is established which causes fluxtraversal of the magnetic circuit. This circuit extends from the topportion of the winding 13 through the bent-over portion 15a of theterminal member 15, through the terminal member 15 to the armature 22across the air gap between the lower portion of the armature 22 and theupper portion of the terminal member 17, through the terminal member 17,across the relatively short gap to the sleeve 21, through the sleeve 21and the Walls of the can 12 back to the bentover portion 15a of theterminal member 15. The magnetic ux which is thus caused to traverse thegap between the armature 22 and the terminal 17 causes the armature 22to pivot clockwise so that the armature 22 engages the terminal 17. Whenthis occurs, the terminal pins 25 and 28 are interconnectedA and theterminal pin 26 is disconnected from the terminal pin 28. Upontermination of the supply of current to the winding 13, the armature 22pivots counterclockwise under the iniluence of the biasing force exertedthereon to itsV normal position in` which the terminalpins 26 andZSarefconnected.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the details ofI asealed switching unit or cartridge 4d of the side stable type are thereillustrated. Briefly, thisLA unit comprises a hermetically sealedhousing 4l, preferably formed Of glass, which may either be evacuated orfilled.

with a suitable are suppressing gaseous medium at a desired pressurethrough a. tube 42 which opens into the housing and ispinched offVV atits upper end- 43-after the desired atmosphere` has been establishedinthe housing 41. A set of. ferromagnetic, electrically conductiveterminals 44, 45 andl 48respectively extend` through the upper and lowerendsof the housing 4l and facilitate connection of the unit. 4tlin theelectrical and magnetic circuits of the relay. A balancedarmature 46-ispivotally mounted on the terminal 44. and selectively connects it toeither of the terminals 45 and 48.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the armature 46 is pivotally mounted on`a ferromagnetic and electrically conductive supporting structure 47which is attached to the lowery end-of the terminal 44. The support 47comprisesY a pair of side members 50 which are received in suitablerecesses at the sides of the terminal member 44 and .between the ends ofwhich extends a cylindrical pivot bar 5,1. Thearmature 46 is attached tothe support 47 by means ofVv a cantileverl type of spring 52l which hasits lower end secured, as by welding or the like, to the armature 46 andmay be provided with a semi-cylindrical upper end portion 53 .which isadapted to engage the bar 51 and which is positioned opposite asemi-cylindrical recess 49 in the armature'46. In initially mounting thearmature 46 upon the support 47, which has previously been attached tothe terminal 44, the left-hand surface of the armature 46, as viewed in-Fig. 2, is slid along the right-hand edge of the pivot bar 51 so that asthe olf-turned upper endV 54 of the spring 52 engages the bar 5lk theupper end ofthe spning52 moves toward the left away from the body of thearmature 46 to cause the spring to ride over the bar 51 until thedepression 53 and the recess 49 are aligned with the bar, at which timethe spring 52 snaps toward the right, thereby pivotally to attach thearmature 46- to the-support 47'.` Since the supporting posts Sil and thebar 51` are formedV of ferromagnetic material, they are magneticallyconnected to the terminal 44. Therefore, when a magnetic eld isestablished between the terminals 44 and 4S, the armature 46 pivotsclockwise into engagement with the upper portion of the terminal 45thereby to establish a conductive path between the terminals 44 and45.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. `2 and 3, the armature 46 isbiased'into engagement with the terminal 48 by means of'a smallcylindrically shaped permanent magnet 57 which is mounted in a recess 58in the rear surface of a nonmagnetic contact 56 supported upon theterminal 48. In order to maximize the ratio of the flux path reluctanceof the terminal 48 to that of the terminal 45, the nonmagnetic contact56, such, for example, as silver, is welded to the upper end of terminal48. The spacing between the contact portions of the terminals 45 and 43is established by means of a nonmagnetic insulating spacer sleeve 60which partially surrounds a cylindrical boss on the front side of thenonmagnetic contact member 56.

The length of the spacer 6i) thus determines the length ofl the air gapbetween the armature 46 and the terminal 45 and thus the air gap iiuxdensity required to operate the re7lay against the attractive force ofthe permanent magnet 5 It may thus be seen that the magnet 57 biases thearmature 46 in its limiting counterclockwise position as shown in Fig.2. lf an increased biasingforce is desired, a magnetic yoke 62 may beattached to the back of the magnet 57 so that the upper portion of theyoke 62 is in proximity to the lower end of the terminal 44 thereby toprovide a low reluctance magnetic circuit for the biasing magnet 57which extends through the yoke 62 across the gap to the terminal 44,through the support 47 and back to the opposite pole of the magnet 57through the lower half of the armature.

Bounce suppression during snap return of the armature to its biasedposition is obtained by the magnetic attraction of the armature 46 tothe permanent magnet 57. When the relay operates and the armaturerotates clockwise to strike the terminal 45, bounce is prevented by thestrong magnetic field which exists between the armature 46 and thecontact 45 to which it is directly connected.

In assembling the parts of the switching unit 4t), the terminal 44 withthe support 47 mounted thereon and the tube 42 are rstpsealed into theupper end of the tubular glass housing 41. This assembly operation isperformed with the lower end of the housing fully open. The armature 46is next inserted into the housing through the open lower end thereof andpivotally mounted upon thev pivot bar 51 of the support 47 in the'mannerdescribed above. The terminal 48 with the parts 56, 57 and 62 mountedthereon, and the terminal 45 are nextV inserted into'the open lower endof the housing 41 until they are brought into thedesiredpositionsrelative to the terminal 44 and the armature 46. During thispositioning operation, the terminals 45 and 48 are xedly held in theirdesired relative positions with the spacer-60 positioned therebetween.When the parts 41, 44, 45, 46 and 48 are thus correctly positionedrelative to` each 'other and,` while beingk held in their correctrelative positions, the lower end of the tubular housing 41 is sealedoffto complete theA assembly. Finally, thek interior of thehousinglisevacuated or filled with a suitable arc suppressing gas through thetube 42 after which this tube is pinched oif and sealed.

Referring now to Fig. 4, an alternative embodiment of a portion of theswitching unit is there shown, wherein a spring 64 is used to bias thearmature into Vengagement with the non-.magnetic contact member 56.Since this embodiment is a modiiication of' theswitching unit 40,similar parts are designatedby like reference numbers. As shown, thearmature 46 is magnetically and electrically mounted on the commonterminal 44 by means of the support 47 and the spring 52. The armature46' is shown in its normal position in engagement with the forward faceof the nonmagnetic contact member 56 which is spaced from the magneticterminal member 45 by meansv of the spacer sleeve 60. A preformed spring64 having a pretensioned resilientoif-turned endfportion 65 is securedat its lower end, as by spot welding or the like, to the armature 46 andthe upper end thereof bears against the forward face of the terminal44'to bias the armature 46 in a counterclockwise direction into,engagement with the contact member 56.' It should be noted that as thearmature 46'is released and pivots counterclockwise, the off-turnedportion 65V of the spring 64 slides downwardly against the face of theterminal 44 as the armature 46 moves into contact with contact 56 onterminal 48.

Referring to Fig. 5 an alternative embodiment of the invention is'thereshown whichconstitutes a modification of the spring biased armaturearrangement shown in Fig. 4. The -unit of Fig. 5 `is particularlysuitable for use in handling heavy switching currents and thus includesa relatively large area contact 67 which is attached as by spot weldingto the lower end of the principal body portion of an armature 68. Thearmature 68 is pivotally supported` on the terminal 44 by means ofthesupport 47 and the spring 52 and the contactr 67is biased against thenonmagnetic contactr member 56 by means of a. biasingspring 70v whichAis.attached at its lower end, to, the armature 68... As, shown, the.armature 68' is pivotedata point approximatelyatits centerv of gravity,

thus providing a balanced armature `which requires a minimum of currentin the control winding to effect operation of the relay. Also, a largearea contact button 71 is mounted on the terminal member 45 forelectrical engagement with the contact member 67 of the armature 68 whenthe relay is operated. The thickness of the contact member 71 exceedsthat of the armature 68 so that a residual gap is provided between thearmature 68 and the terminal 45 when the relay is operated.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown the upper portion of a -relayembodying an alternative aspect of the invention and which includes apermanent magnet 73 disposed in the upper portion of a ferromagnetichousing or can 74 to provide a permanent magnetic ield across the airgap in the associated switching um't (not shown). The magnet 73 iswedged between an upper terminal 75 and the top of the can 74 and sincethe terminal member 75 is both a part of the magnetic circuit and anelectrical connector connected in the external switching circuit, aninsulating disk 76 is positioned between the magnet 73 and the terminalmember 75 to maintain the can 74 isolated from the electrical circuits.Therefore, by using the cartridge 40 in the embodiment of Fig. 6, therelay may be biased toward an operate or release position depending uponthe polarity of the magnet 73. More specifically, with the magnet 73polarized in one direction, more current of a particular polarity mustow through the winding 13 to effect operation of the armature from itsreleased position to its operated position, Whereas if the magnet 73 ispolarized in the opposite direction, a lesser current flow of the samepolarity through the winding 13 is required to overcome the normalarmature bias and eiect operation of the armature to its operatedposition.

Referring now to Fig. 7, a bistable, polar switching unit 80 is thereshown. This unit comprises a set of ferromagnetic terminal members 81and 82 which extend through and are sealed to the bottom of the housing83 and are spaced apart by a nonconductive spacer sleeve 84 locatedwithin the housing. The unit 80` also includes an armature 85 pivotallymounted on a support 86 which is attached to a common terminal memberand heel piece 87. The terminal 87 is electrically and magneticallyconnected to a ferromagnetic and conductive tube 90 which extends fromthe upper end of the hous- -ing 83 and which is pinched off and bentover at its upper end 91 to seal the housing and to provide theoff-turned upper end of the terminal for use in conjunction with thecoil and associated structure as shown, for example in Fig. l. Apermanent magnet 93 is disposed outside the housing 83 between the lowerportions of the terminals 81 and 82 and is insulated from the terminal82 by means of a nonmagnetic insulating spacer 94. The magnet ispolarized in a direction from right-to-left and serves to bias thearmature 85 in either of its limiting positions in contact with eitherof the terminals 81 or 82..

The unit 80 may be used lin a side stable relay by using it inconjunction With the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 which includes thepermanent magnet 73. Depending upon the polarities of the magnets 73 and93, the flux densities produced by each across the air gaps between thearmature 85 and the terminals 81 and 82 will be in opposition in oneinstance and in aiding relationship in the other. Consequently, thearmature 85 is biased so as to close the latter air gap. In such a sidestable relay, properly polarized current in the relay winding overcomesthe magnetic field of the magnets 73 and 93, thereby causing the relayto operate. There is thus provided a side stable polar relay from whichthe biasing spring has been eliminated.

While the invention has been described in connection with particularembodiments thereof, it will be understood that various modificationsmay be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A relay comprising a can, a coil mounted within said can, a switchingunit mounted within said coil and having a portion interposed betweensaid coil and a wall of said can, and resilient means for urging saidcoil and said portion of said switching unit toward said wall of saidcan, thereby to mount said coil and said switching unit in said can.

2. A relay comprising a ferromagnetic can having an open end and aclosed end, an operating winding disposed within said can, a switchingunit mounted within said winding and having a magnetic heel pieceextending therefrom between one end of said winding and the closed endof said can, a header secured to said can and covering over said openend thereof, and resilient means including a ferromagnetic membercompressed between said header and the other end of said winding.

3. A relay as set forth in claim 2 wherein said resilient means includesan annular member having at least one offset pretensioned portion andelectrical connections to said switching unit are made through thecentral opening in said annular member.

4. A relay comprising a can, a coil mounted in said can, a switchingunit mounted along the axis of said coil, a terminal member extendingfrom said unit and having a portion off-turned over the outside of saidcoil, and resilient means for pressing said coil toward said can tocompress the olf-turned portion of said terminal between said coil andsaid can.

5. A relay as set forth in claim 4 wherein the off-turned portion ofsaid terminal member is electrically connected to an external circuit bymeans of a transversely resilient conductive member interposed betweensaid unit and said coil.

6. A relay comprising a housing, a winding in said housing, a switchingunit disposed within said winding and having at least one terminalmember extending therefrom, said switching -unit being mounted withinsaid winding, and resilient, conductive means interposed between saidunit and said winding and electrically connected to said terminal memberand to means extending outside of said housing.

7. The relay set forth in claim 6 wherein said conductive meanscomprises an undulating, elongated member having an end portionembracing an end portion of said terminal member.

8. A relay as set forth in claim l wherein a permanent magnet isdisposed between said portion of said switching unit and said can.

9. A relay comprising a tubular ferromagnetic housing having an open endand a closed end, a winding coaxially disposed in said housing, a headersecured to said housing near the open end thereof for closing said openend, and resilient means interconnected between said header and theadjacent end of said winding for urging the other end of said windingtoward the closed end of said housing, said resilient means including atubular ferromagnetic member having a portion extending within saidwinding and a flanged portion substantially conforming at its peripheryto the internal cross-sectional area of said housing, and a resilientmember interposed between said flange and said adjacent end of saidwindlng.

l0. A relay comprising an elongated ferromagnetic housing having aclosed end, a coil mounted within said housing, a sealed switching unitmounted within said coil and having a ferromagnetic terminal elementprovided with a portion clamped between said coil and the closed end ofsaid housing, said relay having a magnetic circuit which seriallyincludes said portion of said terminal element and the Walls of saidhousing, and means electrically insulating said terminal element fromthe closed end of said housing.

l1. A relay comprising an elongated ferromagnetic housing having aclosed end, a coil mounted Within said housing, a sealed switching unitmounted within said coily and having a ferromagnetic terminal, elementyprovided with an end portion which projects fromy said switching unitand is` interposed' between the closed end of said housingand theadjacenty end of saidwinding, meansielectrically insulating saidterminal element from said housing, andk means resiliently urging saidcoil toward the closed end of said housing to` hold said switching unit,coil and4 housing in assembled'` relationship, said relayV havingamagnetic circuit whieliserially includes said terminal element, thewalls of said housing, and said resilient urging means.

12. A relay comprising an elongated ferromagnetic housing having. aclosed end; a coil mounted, within said,

housing; a sealed switching unit mounted within said coil, saidswitching including a iirst ferromagnetic terminal element and asecondferromagnetic terminal element spaced longitudinally from said firstterminal element and provided with an end portion which is interposedbetween the closed end of said housing and the adjacent end of saidwinding; and ferromagnetic biasing means resiliently urging said coiltoward the closed end of saidvhousing 8il to hold said switching unit,coil, and housing in an assembledV relationship, said biasing meansdefining an opening into which said iirst terminal Velement extends sothat Asaid relay provides a magnetic, circuit'which serially includessaid. first' and second terminal elements, said biasingmeans, and saidhousing.

References Cited in the. le'ofthis patent UNITED STATES BATENTS 900,320Snell Oct; 6, 1908 2,053,102 Palmer Sept. l, 1936 2,245,391 DiektenJune. 10, 1941 2,449,438' Wisegarver Sept; 14, 1948 2,459,306V Burton-,Jan. 18, 1949 2,491,907 Riefel et al.. y Dec. 2-0, 1949. 2,539,547Mossman et .al1 lan. 30,` 1951 2,547,026` Winkler ,Apr. 3', 19512,570,315v Brewer Oct. 9, 195,1 2,609,464 Brown et all Sept. 2, 19522,675,440 Riefel Apr. 13, 1954 2,698,159V Crum Dec. 28, 1954

